LipDub Michigan aims to surpass two world records and display young talent

LANSING, MI -- A statewide effort to highlight young talent in Michigan and surpass two world records has manifested in a video project called “LipDub Michigan.”

Sponsored by The Rock Star Factory in Lansing, LipDub Michigan is intended to promote employment sectors in Michigan and debut on YouTube in September.

Julie Mann, president and CEO of JMann Consulting Group, has spearheaded the project along with several universities and cities.

“We have so much talent within the state,” Mann said. “It’s a very exciting opportunity for us to have a different platform to … help businesses understand and people understand what the state can offer.”

According to Mann, Grand Rapids holds the Guinness Book of World records for the largest participation of volunteers in a lip dub, consisting of 5,000 volunteers. Mann said she hopes to surpass that record with LipDub Michigan.

“Our production team is actually going to be a group of high schoolers who will be assisted and mentored through the process,” Mann said. “We also hope to capture the world record for the youngest production team.”

A newly formed lip dub committee will coordinate with professionals to create a storyboard for the massive project.

“Typically, lip dubs focus on a location,” Mann said. “There are different universities that have done these lip dubs. So a lip dub focusing on a topic and focusing across the state is really an incredibly unique approach.”

LipDub Michigan will consist of different segments taken across the state to form a cohesive video posted on YouTube and shared across social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Katie Robiadek, program manager at the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and Old Town, said it has been an exciting process working with Mann and The Rock Star Factory.

According to an ArtServe Michigan report titled “Creative State Michigan,” every dollar invested in Michigan public arts results in a $51 return. Robiadek said this helped bring in $2 billion in tourism during fiscal year 2010.

“So it’s really important that we highlight as a part of the lip dub the opportunity for creative talent,” Robiadek said. “We have a lot of opportunity here in the state and we have a lot of impact on the sector.”

Volunteers interested in helping with the production of LipDub Michigan can email Mann at julie@jmannconsultinggroup.com.